Bathroom Remodelers in San Jose, CA

San Jose Bathroom Remodels

An essential stop throughout everyone's day, a home's bathrooms are not only critical for the flow of life, but one of the most valuable spaces in terms of real estate and resale. Choosing to remodel one or all of a home's bathrooms is one of the best investments homeowners can make in terms of resale cost recuperation. For this reason, each year many homeowners in San Jose, CA, look towards remodeling their bathrooms.

With a population of over 1 million people, San Jose is the largest city in Northern California, the third largest in the state, and tenth largest in all of the U.S. Its proximity to both San Francisco and the Silicon Valley makes this affluent community a much sought-after area for real estate, which explains the high cost of remodel and addition projects. Therefore, homeowners have much to consider when undergoing such an expensive, expansive home improvement mission. Whether they are looking for a quick refresh or complete overhaul, there are many factors that impact the final cost and result of a bathroom remodel project in San Jose, CA.

Prominent Neighborhoods in San Jose, CA

San Jose, CA, was first founded by Spanish settlers in 1777, serving as a farming community supplying the port towns of San Francisco and Monterey for much of its history. In fact, it wasn't until the middle of the 20th century that San Jose's largely rural landscape saw major urban development as many soldiers returning from WWII decided to settle in the city. Since then, however, development has been rapid and expansive. The city's proximity to the tech capital of the United States has led to a massive affluent community with a high cost of living and earned it the moniker, "The Capital of Silicon Valley."

Indeed, San Jose and its surrounding areas are among the most expensive places in the country to live, with a median home cost of $900,000, which is over four times the national average of $205,000. Still, there is some wiggle room for homeowners in the area, particularly young single people and married couples who can make do with smaller spaces. In fact, the city's once dreary Downtown district has seen a surge of development, including high rise condos offered for around half a million dollars. Families in the city have ample living options as well, including the charming neighborhoods of Willow Glen and Rose Garden, both of which offer larger homes and a quaint feel within the boundaries of the city itself. For newer homes, Silver Creek, which is carved into the hillsides of the city's southeast corridor, is a popular choice.

Finally, for those with the funds, Los Gatos and Almaden offer rolling estates and mansion-style living popular among Silicon Valley's elite as well as a similar small town feel. In addition, the western suburb of Cupertino, famous as the home base of Apple, is one of the most popular places to raise a family in the area, with many larger homes and some of the best schools in the country.

Costs for Bathroom Remodel Services and Supplies

The high-priced San Jose real estate market means that new, custom, and updated homes are important in terms of both resale value and general appearances. Updating and customizing your home's bathrooms goes a long way in achieving the kind of style and modern touch expected in such a high-end market. However, there are still options that San Jose homeowners need to consider, including the exact projects they want done as well as how custom they want the end results.

Remodeling a bathroom is a general term that can mean anything from switching out fixtures for an updated or more stylized look to ripping the room down to its studs and completely reimagining it into a private, personalized oasis. Each element that homeowners choose to remodel or update adds to the total cost, which, in San Jose, is significantly higher across the board as compared to the rest of the country:

Adding new elements is not necessary since it may be possible to use existing items or repurpose them. However, the cost of each individual service that is completed during a bathroom remodel clearly impacts its overall price and means adding more to the final cost than in other parts of the country. This is something to consider and discuss with your contractor.

Choosing Accessories

While the work that you choose to have done as a homeowner obviously impacts the cost of a bathroom remodel in San Jose, so, too, does the quality of accessories that you choose to add to that work. While many national home improvement stores such as Lowe's and Home Depot offer affordable options for items, such as vanities, toilets, and tubs, customized items, built-to-suit details, and specialized colors all add to the overall value of a remodeled bathroom space.

In San Jose, there are a variety of places where homeowners can choose accessories as well as hire professionals, in addition to their general contractor, who can provide customized pieces. The costs of these items vary from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, with small artisans charging much more than national retailers for customized selections. Homeowners in San Jose should investigate these options, shop around online and in person with national retailers, as well as look into local specialists such as Pacific Kitchen & Bath Company, Woodenbridge Custom Cabinets & Granite, and Dickinson Cabinetry. In addition, individual contractors may have relationships with custom fitters who they may recommend.

Hiring a Professional Contractor

Deciding to remodel a bathroom in your San Jose home is no small task, which is why it is so important to find a reliable contractor to oversee the project. A professional who understands both your vision and your budget will help you remodel your bathroom in a timely and effective way. There are several factors that go into determining who is reliable.

• Qualifications and Licensure: The State of California requires anyone contracted to do more than $500 worth of construction or journeyman work to obtain a license from the California State Licensing Board (CSLB). This includes general contractors, electricians, and plumbers, all of whom may need to do work on a bathroom remodeling project. The purpose of this license is to ensure that a job is performed safely and to code. Homeowners can check the status of any contractor's license by visiting the CSLB "Instant License Check" website.
• Reviews and Recommendation: In addition to proper qualifications, the reputation of a particular contractor and his project history is important to review as well. There are several ways to do this. Online review sites provide an easy forum for homeowners to check past performance, as do word-of-mouth referrals. In addition, homeowners can ask contractors for references and review photos of past work.
• Timeliness: The number of hours a particular contractor or subcontractor works on a project has a direct impact on its final price. While there are many factors that can delay work, getting a time estimate before the project begins is important when trying to determine final costs. The overall timeline for work is also important. Bathroom remodels in San Jose typically take between 5-6 weeks, which is longer than the national average of 2-3 weeks.

Other Bathroom Remodel Projects and Ideas to Consider

While the cost of a general bathroom remodel is already high, in addition to the details reviewed above, there are other projects and additions that homeowners may want to consider as well. These projects will enhance the final effect, adding value and grandeur to the final project.

Building a Bathroom as Part of an Addition

Putting an addition onto your home is another way to add real value to it as well as truly personalize your space. Additions offer homeowners an opportunity to start from scratch with their design concepts, including designing a larger or new bathroom that is suited to personal needs and style. Putting an addition onto a home is a significant project, however, with high costs. In San Jose, like other home improvement projects, this cost is much higher than the national average.

Upgraded Bathroom Accessories

Higher-end accessories in your bathroom add to the luxury of the space and further increase your home's resale value. Choosing to add such details, which may include natural stone tile and granite countertops, does come at a premium.

Like all real estate-related costs, remodeling a bathroom in San Jose, CA is a high-cost endeavor with the potential for incredibly high returns. Choosing to truly personalize or elevate a space only increases those costs as well as the associated real estate value. Through careful research and preparation, creating a unique bathroom oasis in your San Jose home is not only possible, but fun and exciting.